Dear Abby: sms attachment: judgmental.jpeg

[lemonsharks]

DEAR ABBY: Recently, family members have started texting to inform me about personal, private matters. When they do, I text back, which sometimes leads to lengthy paragraphs. I wish they’d just call me! I’m beginning to wonder if that’s what they are avoiding. I should add that I am not feuding with my family. Am I wrong? — PERPLEXED IN CONNECTICUT

DEAR PERPLEXED: No, you are not wrong. People have become so enamored of their electronic devices they seem to have forgotten that sometimes it’s more efficient to just TALK to the other party. I know from personal experience that emailing and texting can take far more time than a spoken conversation.

Comments

[needles]

If they send you a text that you have a lot of thoughts about and you want to call them then as opposed to writing lengthy paragraphs... Call them? The phone line works both ways.

[rymenhild]

Or even text to say, "I'd love to talk about this with you. Is it a good time?"

[shirou]

This. I much prefer texting for little things, but I understand that a phone call—or in-person conversation, if feasible—can be better for a long, in-depth discussion. I greatly appreciate the opportunity to schedule that discussion for a suitable time instead of being expected to pick up the phone at a time convenient for the person calling. I remember doing that in the days of yore and wonder why it didn’t frustrate me as much then as it does now.